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Design, Technology , and Engineering benefitting individuals
with disabilities and older adults in the local community |
September 17, 2020 |
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Perspectives is the newsletter of the
Stanford course,
Perspectives in Assistive Technology.
Mid-September Course Update
This issue
describes course planning for the next academic
year.
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Perspectives in Assistive
Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - entering its
fifteenth year - that explores the design, development, and use of
assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults.
It consists of semi-weekly online discussions; lectures by
notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; virtual
tours of local medical, clinical, and engineering facilities; student
project presentations and demonstrations; a Virtual Assistive Technology
Faire; and a film screening. |
Mid-September Course
Update
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Mid-September Course
Update |
Effects of teaching the course online
Perspectives in Assistive Technology (ENGR110/201) will
be taught online this coming academic year. This presents the following
conditions which will require changes to the course elements:
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Students not on campus:
- no access to PRL fabrication facilities
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Students not co-located:
- challenging to form cohesive teams and coordinate
project tasks
- unable to interact in person with
a user with a disability in the local Stanford community for interviews,
observations, device prototype testing, and feedback
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Other student issues:
- students may not be able to obtain
or fabricate specialized parts
- students may not have access to
suitable tools
- students may not have a suitable
fabrication space
Table of differences
This table summarizes differences between last year's
course and what is planned for the coming academic year.
| |
Winter 2020 |
Winter 2021 |
| Credits for
working on a project |
1, 2, or 3 (Note 1) |
2 |
| Members on a
team project |
3 |
1 (Note 2) |
| Project goal |
Functional prototype device tested with user |
CAD design,
non-functional appearance model, or a report on a technology or agency that
benefits people with disabilities or older adults |
| Community
involvement |
Meet
in-person with community member with a disability or older adult |
Meet
virtually with a community member with a disability or older adult |
| Reports |
Mid-term
& end-of-term |
End-of-term |
| Presentations |
Mid-term
& end-of-term in class |
End-of-term
via Zoom |
| Required
class sessions |
19 |
11 |
| Class
session participation |
In-person |
Synchronous
via Zoom or asynchronous by video |
| Fabrication
facilities available |
Product
Realization Lab |
Varies with
student's situation |
| Fabrication
materials used |
Mechanical.
electrical, electronic, and microcontrollers |
Arts and
crafts materials |
| Project
budget |
$200 |
$25 |
| Special
class sessions |
1. Field trips
2.
Assistive Technology Faire
3. Project demonstrations |
1. Videos of field
trips
2. Virtual Assistive Technology Faire
3. Project demos integrated
into presentations |
| Note 1 - |
1 credit
projects pursued by individual students, 2 credit unit projects pursued by one
or two students, 3 credit unit projects pursued by a team of three
students |
| Note 2 - |
Two
students may work on the same project, each pursuing a different
solution |
Updated plans for the next academic year
Here are my continuing thoughts on teaching elements
for the Perspectives in Assistive Technology course in the coming academic
year.
- Panel of Community
Members with a Disability:
In previous academic years, I have organized a class
session featuring the perspectives of Stanford students with a disability. In
this panel discussion, several Stanford students with disabilities discussed
how their disabilities have impacted their lives, the challenges they have
faced, their academic goals, and the assistive technology they employ to be
successful students.
For this coming academic year, I would like to add a
Zoom class session featuring community members rather than students. Each panel
member would have about 10 minutes to speak about themselves and the assistive
technology they use to achieve their goals. Please let me know if you would
like to be a part of this class. One community member has already agreed to
participate.
- Virtual Assistive
Technology Faire:
In past years, vendors of products and services have participated
in a tradeshow style exhibition on campus. With the course being conducted
online, there is the opportunity for a virtual Faire conducted in Zoom. At this
time, I would like to gauge the interest in this. Please let me know if you
might participate online with a product or service or a Show-n-Tell item
related to assistive technology. If there are enough responders, I will
schedule a date and time for the one-hour Zoom event. Two individuals have so
far agreed to participate in this event.
- Call for Student
Project Suggestions:
Student projects are a vital course element. I am currently
soliciting project suggestions from the readership of Perspectives. If you can
identify a project challenge experienced by a real individual with a disability
or an older adult, please send a brief email describing it.
- What community members
can do:
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Suggest projects: Identify challenges /
difficulties / problems affecting people with disabilities or older adults that
could be addressed by a student project. Email me a brief description of the
challenge.
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Attend class sessions: Plan to virtually attend
class sessions starting Tuesday, January 12th.
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Participate in the Faire: Please let me know if
you might participate online with a product or service or a Show-n-Tell item
related to assistive technology. So far, four individuals have communicated
their interest.
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Support the course: Funding in any amount for the
course and student projects is always welcomed. Monetary gifts support approved
project expenses, administrative costs, honoraria for guest lecturers, and the
end-of-term celebration. Refer to the
Course and Project Support
webpage for more information.
Other
Email
questions, comments, or suggestions - Please
email me if you have general
questions, comments, corncerns, or suggestions regarding the course. Thank you
again for your interest.
Dave
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